Franklin Allen

Franklin Allen was a member of the Class of 1937. He joined the Farmhouse fraternity and was the Senior Editor of the Illinois Agriculturalist. Franklin felt the strain of the Great Depression during college, and he took time off from college and held jobs to cover expenses. However, he thought he had good luck in life.

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Louise Proctor Allen

Louise Proctor Allen was a member of the Class of 1936. Louise studied Art and Education; and she joined the Delta Delta Delta sorority. Although her family was prosperous, Louise remembered scrimping and saving during the Depression.

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Mary Anne Barnfield

Mary Anne Reifsteck Barnfield studied Business and graduated in 1934.  She lived on her family's farm during college and found rides to campus.  Mary Anne did not notice the Great Depression because her family always had enough to eat.

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Royal Bartlett

Royal Bartlett began his studies at the University of Illinois in 1927. He studied Accounting and Banking. Royal said that he did not notice the effect of the Great Depression until he tried to find a job after graduation. Royal has fond memories of his friendships and campus life at the University.

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Merle Boren

Merle Boren grew up in Champaign in the boarding house that his family operated and lived in. He studied Business, graduated in 1937, and pursued graduate studies at the University. Merle said that he did not especially feel the pains of the Great Depression.

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Erma Scott Bridgewater

Erma Scott Bridgewater was a member of the Class of 1937. She joined the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. Erma said she experienced discrimination as an African-American student. Also, Erma said that she did not have alot of financial difficulty during the Depression.

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Kay Fishbaugh Carr

Kay Fishbaugh Carr was a member of the Class of 1931. She joined the Alpha Phi sorority and studied Home Economics. Kay said she noticed the effects of the Great Depression, but did not experience hardships directly. 

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Grace Green Clifford

Grace Green Clifford graduated in 1931, and she studied English and Philosophy.  While in college, Grace joined a sorority and participated in events at the YWCA and the Women’s League.  Grace said that her family sometimes had financial difficulties during the Depression.

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Anita Crites Crawford

Anita Crites Crawford was a member of the Class of 1935. She earned a teacher’s certificate and later entered law school. She said that she was not hurt by the Depression because a placement service helped her find a teaching job. 

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Beth Olwin Dawson

Beth Olwin Dawson graduated in 1933. She was a member of the Pi Phi sorority, and she studied English with minors in History and French.  Beth came from a more affluent family and therefore did not feel hurt by the Great Depression.

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Sidney Bar Dilks

Sidney Dilks came to the University of Illinois as an undergraduate in 1924 and attended the law school for a year before transferring. Dilks recalls difficulty paying his education, and he was the first member of his family to attend college. He also remembers watching Red Grange score four touchdowns at the opening of Memorial Stadium in 1928.

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Austin Dyson

Austin Dyson was a member of the Class of 1937. He studied Electrical Engineering, and he was a member of ROTC. Austin said his family had a hard time during the Great Depression. In fact, Austin worked as a golf caddy throughout college to pay for his education.

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Joe Aurelio Florio

Joe Florio was a member of the Class of 1934.  At first, Joe studied to teach physical education. Later, he earned a Master’s of Sociology in 1936, and he taught at the University of Illinois.  Joe worked as a waiter to earn money when he was an undergraduate.

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Jack Foesterling

Jack Foesterling graduated in 1937 with a degree in Political Science.  While a student, Jack joined ROTC and the Theta Xi fraternity.  Later, he earned a JD from Valparaiso University.  Jack did not experience financial hardship during the Depression.

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June Yarnell Foster

June Foster was a member of the Class of 1939 and a recipient of a Home Economics scholarship.  She was widowed early and returned to graduate school, earning an MS in Child Development in 1962.  June said her family had financial difficulties during the Great Depression.

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Kathryn Hansen

Kathryn Hansen graduated in 1934.  She attended the U of I on scholarship and studied Journalism, English, and History.  She was inducted into several honor societies, and she joined the Alpha Delta Theta sorority.  Kathryn loved literature; and she earned a Master’s of Literature and wrote a book named Grundy Corners.

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Donald Hoebel

Donald Hoebel graduated in 1933 with a BS in Journalism. He was a member of the Chi Psi fraternity. Donald lost money in the Great Depression, and he held three jobs to cover his expenses. A lifelong journalist, Donald shared several stories about his college days.

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David Hubbard

David Hubbard was a member of the Class of 1937. He grew up on a farm and earned a BS in Agriculture. He also took a teaching certificate and completed some graduate coursework. David said his family experienced a lot of hardship during the Great Depression.

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Junette Peile James

Junette James attended the University of Illinois on a full scholarship. She studied education and graduated in 1935. Also, she was active in the Lutheran Student Association. Junette’s family was not wealthy, and she felt broke throughout the Great Depression.

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Rudard Jones

Rudard Jones graduated in 1936. He majored in Architectural Engineering and worked in the Ricker Library and as a waiter. He said he needed the extra money in the Depression. He was a member of the Phi Eta Sigma honorary society, and he received the Alpha Rho Chi professional honor metal. 

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Alfred Kamm

Alfred Kamm graduated in 1934.  He and his twin brother received full scholarships from their county.  Alfred and his brother joined the Sigma Pi fraternity, and both majored in Agricultural Education.  Also, the twins played varsity basketball during college; and Alfred worked as a waiter in a fraternity.

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Betty Ann Knight

Betty Ann Knight was a member of the Class of 1938. She studied Home Economics, took a teaching certificate, and later earned a Master’s.  Betty Ann joined a sorority during college, but baby-sat to earn extra money during the Great Depression.

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Frank Kuntz

Frank Kuntz graduated in 1933. Frank majored in Athletic Education; and he joined a fraternity, but left due to the expense.  In fact, Frank worked as a dishwasher and a janitor to make ends meet during the Depression.

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Wanda Spencer Larson

Wanda Spencer Larson graduated in 1938.  She majored in Education and joined the Chi Omega sorority. Wanda has rich memories of the manners and mores of campus life at the time.

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Jean Lattan

Jean Lattan was a member of the Class of 1932.  He received a scholarship to the U of I and majored in Engineering and Mathematics. Jean said that he did not especially notice the effects of the Great Depression, but he worked as a waiter during college. Also, Jean was a member of the Glee Club and he was the Student Colonel.

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Geraldine North Marrs

Geraldine North Mars graduated in 1935. She received a scholarship and majored in Education. Geraldine was active in the Women’s League and she joined the Phi Epsilon Omicron honorary society. Geraldine said that the Great Depression meant having less pocket money and a harder time on the job market.

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Pauline Linebarger McClain

Pauline Linebarger McClain was a member of the Class of 1929. She majored in History and studied to become a teacher. Also, she joined a sorority. She said the Great Depression made it hard for her to find a job.

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Melvin McCoy

Melvin McCoy was a member of the Class of 1930. He majored in music and made the band. Also, Melvin taught music to high school students and played the saxophone in clubs to help pay for his education. In fact, the university band he played with toured the country for a year-and-a-half with vaudeville.

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Charles McNaughton

Charles McNaughton graduated in 1928.  He began his studies in Architecture, but switched to Education after he heard of the coming Depression. Charles lived with his brother and a group of friends during college; and they enjoyed playing intermural basketball. He also joined ROTC.

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Carl Milburn

Carl Milburn was a member of the Class of 1937. He majored in Economics and earned minors in Philosophy and Sociology. Carl joined the Alpha Delta Phi fraternity, and he was active in the Glee Club. Also, he was responsible for some committees at the YMCA.

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Dwight Miller

Dwight Miller graduated in 1934. He majored Chemical Engineering, and was active in the American Chemical Society and the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. Dwight said he felt broke during the Depression. In fact, he worked for the University’s Information Office in college.

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Florence Hood Miner

Florence Hood Miner graduated in 1929. She joined the Delta Zeta sorority and studied Journalism.  In addition, Florence studied dress design in Paris for a year. Florence said her family did not experience hardship during the Depression.

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Louise Kenyon Molitor

Louise Kenyon Molitor was a member of the Class of 1933. She majored in English and minored in French. Louise joined the Phi Mu sorority. In addition, Louise wanted to study dress design, but the Great Depression interrupted her plans.

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Mary Monahan

Mary Monahan was a member of the Class of 1927. She studied Journalism and wrote for the Daily Illini. Mary did not need to have a job when she was in college. She enjoyed watching sports and was she active in the Newman Chapel.

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William O'Dell

William O’Dell graduated in 1931. He joined the Delta Upsilon fraternity and studied Commerce and Business. William said his choice of major made him aware of the stock market crash and the Great Depression. He said he felt a pinch during the Depression, but he was not seriously impoverished.

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Barbara Bischoff Patten

Barbara Bischoff Patten was a member of the Class of 1936. She joined a sorority and majored in History. Barbara did not have a lot of extra money during the Depression, but she was not impoverished. Nevertheless, Barbara worked as a store clerk during college.

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Mary Kay Hansen Peer

Mary Kay Hansen Peer graduated in 1934. She majored in English, but she had an unfulfilled dream of studying Business and managing a hotel. Mary Kay was a typist in high school and college. Also, she worked for a handful of departments across the University. She said the Depression was hard, but she did not suffer too much.

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Darrius Phebus

Darrius Phebus graduated in 1933. He studied Liberal Arts as an undergraduate; and he later went to law school. Darrius did not have alot of money during the Great Depression. In fact, he worked for a sorority to help pay for his education and his living expenses.

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Marshall Scott

Marshall Scott graduated in 1933. He earned a scholarship to the University and studied Agricultural Education. Later, he received a Master’s from the U of I and a Ph.D. from the University of Iowa. Marshall joined the Theta Phi fraternity and held odd jobs in college.

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Portia Allyn Smith

Portia Allyn Smith attended the University from the fall of 1934 through 1937. She studied Geology and lived in a co-op house. Portia worked for the National Youth Administration as a clerk to pay for her living expenses. She remembered a bias against women in the sciences.

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Albert Spurlock

Albert Spurlock graduated in 1938. He joined the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity, majored in Industrial Education, and made the track team. Albert experienced discrimination as a black student in the towns and from other students. However, he had a good experience on the campus. Finally, Albert worked in Greek houses for his meals.

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Audrey Moore Stewart

Audrey Moore Stewart graduated in 1932 with a degree in Journalism. She took some graduate courses and finished a second BA in English in 1934. Audrey joined the Alpha Delta Theta sorority and the Glee Club; and she wrote for the Daily Illini. Her family was well-off, so Audrey did not experience financial difficulty in the Depression.

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Jean Peabody Taylor

Jean Peabody Taylor was a member of the Class of 1935. She graduated with a degree in Accounting, but retrained to be a teacher. Jean worked throughout college and lived at home.

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James Vaky

James Vaky was a member of the Class of 1933. He initially studied music, but graduated with a degree in Education. James played in the band, and he was a member of the Phi Mu Alpha music fraternity. Also, he won the Poetry Prize.

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Ruth Kuhn Youngerman

Ruth Kuhn Youngerman was a member of the Class of 1935. She studied Economics and attended graduate school for business. Ruth joined the Alpha Epsilon Phi sorority, but she was not very active in it. Finally, Ruth said she did not experience discrimination as a Jewish student.

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